Richard B. Miller wrote an article talking about power responsibilities in the home. Number two on his list was “Parents must be united in their leadership“. When raising children, parents need to be aware of each other’s role and responsibilities. Brother Miller goes on to say “neither the wife nor the husband is the slave of the other“. Understanding that we as parents need to stand as a united front because if we want our kids to grow up and contribute to society, we need to first teach them how to work together in a unified manner. When couples stop working together and try to make the other a slave to their needs, kids start to get used as weapons and grow up to hate and disrespect their parents.
In Elder Ballard’s book Counseling with our Councils in chapter two, he states that “by counseling together, they can arrive at an accord“. When in family councils, parents need to respect the other’s opinion and knowledge on the subject and work together to find a solution. The husband and the wife have different roles to play but in the Proclamation to the World it says “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners“. Just because nurturing is not the father’s responsibility, does not mean he does not have an opinion on the matter. At the same time, mother’s are not divinely appointed to provide for the family, but as they council together she has the right to help in providing for the family.
“Unity for them in marriage was not given as hope, it was a commandment“. President Eyring said this in a talk given back in ’98. Like all commandments, this one is still and always be in effect. The Lord does not wish or desire as to work together, but commands us to do so. When we follow his command to work together and be one we are more likely to feel the spirit and to act in accordance to the will of the Lord. To be one, is to accept we are equal in importance to each other. When we are equal, we accept each other’s roles and responsibilities and seek to uplift and sustain them. Neither role is less important. They each play an important role in the unity with each other and all the trials we will face on the earth.
Marriage Insights 